Christ, Science, and Reason: What We Can Know about Jesus, Mary, and Miracles is Fr. Spitzer’s latest book. Given the challenges to questions of faith in an age of science, this book will enable you to hold fast to your faith with confidence—and considerable knowledge!
In his inimitable style, Fr. Spitzer is not afraid to tackle complicated topics head-on. He begins his book by addressing questions about the historicity of Jesus, His miracles, Resurrection, and even His Divinity before diving into some of the most significant topics surrounding faith.
A Chapter on the Shroud of Turin
The Shroud of Turin, the supposed burial cloth of Jesus, gets its own chapter. Here, the reader finds the fascinating scientific evidence compiled, validating its age, explaining the latest scientific dating methods, and examining the detailed evidence of the blood particles and stains that make forgery impossible. In this chapter, the reader also learns about two hypotheses explaining the formation of the image: the Ultraviolet Radiation Hypothesis (URH) and the Particle Radiation Hypothesis (PRH). This chapter reads almost like a detective story.
Fr. Spitzer on Miracles
In the enlightening chapter on Eucharistic miracles, Fr. Spitzer introduces a definition of a miracle that honors its supernatural character without dismissing the support that scientific investigations offer. Even if science cannot directly “prove” a miracle, it offers indirect evidence.
Nevertheless, there can be an indirect validation of the possibility or likelihood of a miracle based on an exhaustive scientific investigation that excludes all known natural explanations. (p. 159)
These insights are useful when considering not only Eucharistic miracles but miracles associated with the Blessed Mother (the Tilma of Guadalupe, the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima, and unexplained cures at Lourdes). These miracles are explored in depth in Chapters 5 and 6, “Science at the Doorstep to Mary”.
The Catholic Church’s Contribution to Natural Science
The chapter “The Catholic Church’s Contribution to Natural Science” is an excellent summary of the enduring contributions that the Church has made to the scientific endeavor throughout history. From a short but insightful presentation of the Galileo controversy to the insights and limitations of cosmological and biological evolution, Fr. Spitzer provides a “big picture” view of the role played by the Church.
A Fr. Spitzer Style Conclusion
As Fr. Spitzer has done in his other books, end-of-chapter summaries are provided. These reinforce the main arguments from the chapter and allow the reader the opportunity to review the outline of copious details provided in the chapter. But readers will be grateful also for the “Conclusion.” This final chapter offers a brief summary of the chapters of the entire book with enough detail to offer a meaningful review.
As if the chapter summaries and the Conclusion were not enough, the Appendix summarizes the arguments for Jesus as the Founder of the Catholic Church. This and the extensive bibliography provide an astounding wealth of information, making Christ, Science, and Reason: What We Can Know about Jesus, Mary, and Miracles a valuable resource.
Answers to Hard Questions
Fr. Spitzer’s compilation and distillation of complex topics will once again give the reader confidence that the loving and Intelligent Creator has given us enough “intelligence, self-consciousness, moral and spiritual awareness, and free will” to ask and find answers even to hard questions.
